Pursuing your degree at a sonography school in Virginia will help prepare you for a career in this growing field. The Virginia Workforce Connection (vawc.virginia.gov) predicts that job opportunities for diagnostic medical sonographers should be favorable. Request information from schools listed below, ask questions, and be sure they have the programs and certifications to meet your career goals. If a program is not available in your area, you might consider looking at related fields.
Diagnostic medical sonographers, also known as ultrasound technicians, capture images of the inside of the body using a device that passes sound waves through the human body. Physicians use these images to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease and injuries, as well as monitor a woman’s pregnancy. Ultrasonography is becoming more popular as it is viewed as a safer alternative to radiologic procedures.
Schools
Schools Near You
Career Resources
Virginia Healthcare Career Resources
A sonography degree prepares you for a variety of job functions from introducing future parents to a first look at their baby to identifying abnormalities, such as tumors, growing inside a patient’s organs.
By The Numbers
Career growth for diagnostic medical sonographers in Virginia is expected to be on par with the rest of the country for the decade spanning 2014 to 2024, with employment growth in Virginia predicted to be 32%. The median annual salary in 2015 was $69,800. The majority of those employed as medical sonographers find work at general medical and surgical hospitals.
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Career Resources
Certification
Virgina’s Certification Requirements
Statewide licensure is not required in Virginia. However, many employers do require professional certification by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). The only way to earn certification is by taking and passing their exam. There are many locations throughout Virginia to take the exam, and you can find them on the ARDMS website at ardms.org, or by calling the testing company Pearson Vue at 1-877-258-9220.
The easiest way to qualify to sit for the exam is to graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Otherwise, you’ll need 12 months of full time clinical experience. Request information from several ultrasound technician schools in Virginia, and do the research to make sure that they meet the certification requirements you’re looking for.
Additional Certification Information
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an ultrasound technician do?
There’s much more than just imaging internal organs. Learn more at: ultrasounddchoolsinfo.com/ultrasound-technician. Get a complete job description, as well as first-hand accounts of what it’s like to be a sonographer.
How do I get started?
We’ll walk you through all of the steps, starting when you’re still in high school or before you’ve started any formal post-education program, all the way through finding a job and advancing in your career. Get Started Now.
How long do I have to go to school?
Most degree programs are completed within two years.
How do I know if it’s right for me?
In order to be successful in the field, you’ll need more than just technical knowledge. Here’s how you’ll know if you’ve got what it takes.
What other jobs can I get in healthcare?
There are many careers available within the healthcare industry, and we’ll introduce you to many of them here.
Ultrasound Technician Schools in Richmond, VA
Richmond has a lot to offer someone who’s looking to attend a medical imaging program. Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital School of Medical Imaging has certified programs for those interested in pursuing radiology, and there are several CAAHEP certified programs in the outlying area.
The median salary for diagnostic medical sonographers in Richmond was $67,500 in 2015. Job growth in a variety of allied health occupations is expected to be strong. There are many historical sites to tour in your spare time in Virginia, including the birthplace of George Washington in Mt. Vernon. If history isn’t your thing, gather your friends and visit the world’s only oyster museum on Chincoteague Island. Whatever you pleasure, graduating from an ultrasound technician school in Virginia will give you a great education combined with a positive economic outlook.
Accredited Sonography Schools in Virginia in 2017
As you consider which sonography program to attend, there are many factors that you’ll want to consider, from cost and proximity to job placement percentages. One of the most important things, though, is the accreditation of the program or institution. The following ultrasound technician schools in Virginia have all been accredited in diagnostic medical sonography by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), as of March, 2017:
Northern Virginia Community College
Springfield, VA
Piedmont Virginia Community College
Charlottesville, VA
Southside Regional Medical Center
Petersburg, VA
Tidewater Community College
Virginia Beach, VA
Here’s What the Experts Have to Say
Neal F. Kassell, M.D, Distinguished Professor at the University of Virginia and founder and Chairman of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation, spoke with us in an interview about the foundation and the benefit that patients are seeing from Focused Ultrasound.